Crowned

“Stephen, a man full of faith and The Holy Spirit.” – Acts 6

What a description!

He wasn’t one of the apostles, or an elder in the church.

Stephen was set aside to, wait for it…

wait tables.

Humble beginnings for sure.

Stephen’s story begins with him being set apart to wait tables because the people around him noticed his faith and filling.

But, soon, his status changed and “a man full of grace and power” was added to his description.

And with the added giftings, The Bible says “Stephen performed many amazing miracles and signs.”

Stephen stuck out.

He stuck out so much that, on the day the God-haters showed up, he was singled out.

The synagogue leaders brought him in and debated with him.

None of them were able to win a debate against his wisdom and power.

They couldn’t stand the truth so they lied about him.

Their lies escalated the situation and Stephen was brought before the keepers of the religious law.

As he stood before them his face “shined as bright as an angel and they couldn’t take their eyes off of him.”

Then he called them out for their refusal to see that Jesus was The Messiah, The Son of God that they had all been waiting for.

And, because he told them the truth, they were furious and they stoned him.

CROWNED

Stoning is simple. People pick up rocks and hit you with them until you die.

As they stoned him, familiar words came out of his mouth.

“Father, forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing.”

Stephen was not full of himself, or full of fear. He was full of faith and The Holy Spirit and overflowing with grace and power. The result?

“…they were unable to cope with the wisdom and The Spirit with which he was speaking.” -Acts 6:10

And their inability to cope led them to murder him.

When we are filled with faith, and The Spirit, and grace and power to the point of “shining like the sun”, some people will “set us aside” for good works and some won’t be able to cope with the wisdom and The Spirit with which we speak!

Some will love us and some will hate us.

I thought a long time about what ‘parallel story’ I would use today to bring Stephen’s story into our time.

I finally saw that this story needs no help.

Stephen’s inner strength simply could not be hidden, from his friends or his enemies.

This is the way that The Light works.

When introduced to a dark world, light gets noticed.

And, when it gets noticed, there is a cost.

STOP.

Are you faithful, full of The Spirit, and living in grace and power?

Are people noticing?

Is your light shining into dark places?

Ask Father for help to be faithful, filled, living in grace and power.

Ask Him right now.

You have been prayed for today

Bonus – The name Stephen means CROWNED.